Remote scoring target



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F. STERNE REMOTE SCORING TARGET M 9 l 3, 2 V. o N

Filed Dec. 9, 195o 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR i90/7k .Sfar/7e B l Y IATTO RN EVS Nov. 23, 1954 F STERNE I y f 2,695,173 E REMOTE SCORINGTARGET Filed Dec. 9. 1950 A 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS NOV. 23, 1954STERNE REMOTE SCORING TARGET 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 9, 1950INVENTOR @rf/e ATTORNEY.:

0447, y0u/1.7, BY

United States Patent O 2,695,173 REMOTE SCORING TARGET Frank Sterne, NewYork, N. Y. Application December 9, 1950, Serial No. 200,029 4 Claims.(Cl. 273 102.2)

This invention relates to targets for bullets such as are dischargedfrom ries, pistols and the like. More particularly, the inventionrelates to targets which indicate and record at a distant point thevalue and the location of each hit on the target.

It is an object of this invention to provide improved targets of thecharacter described. It is a further object of the invention to providean improved sectionalized target and improved means for accuratelyrecording at a distant point which section of the target has been hit.Another object of the invention is to provide a target aving means toprevent the rcocheting and rebounding of bullets from the face thereof,and to guide the spent bullets. Still another object of the invention isto provide a target having a perforable face which may be Jeasily andquickly removed after use and replaced with a fresh target face.

The desirability of having a target which will accurately record thevalue of each hit automatically at point distance from the target hasbeen recognized heretofore. In most cases, it is desired that therecording mechanism be located at the point of firing. Such a targetshouldv record not only the value of each hit, but also the location ofthe hit on the target, so that the individual who is shooting can makethe proper correction or allowance in an attempt to bring the next shotinto the bulls-eye. Practical means for accomplishing the desiredresults have not been available heretofore. Moreover, the recordingtargets of the prior art often presented unusual appearances and werenot adapted to use of the conventional 'target face design consistingsimply of a plurality of concentric circles on a plane surface. Bulletsstriking the recording targets of the prior art also were liable torico- 'chet or rebound, endangering personnel, as well as exposedportions of the target recording mechanism and nearby structures.

According to the present invention a target is provided which, from theshooters standpoint, has the appearance of the conventional target, butwhich will record iinmediately at the ring point, the location on thetarget as well as the value of each hit. This recording is performedentirely automatically, thus eliminating the possibility of error whichis always present with manual recording. Because the recording isperformed automatically, the necessity for having someone continuouslyin the butts to record the hits on each target and to repair and replacethe targets is eliminated. Moreover, the ricocheting and rebounding ofthe bullets from the target is prevented and the spent bullets areguided below to be collected so that the metal may be salvaged as scrap.

The preferred embodiments of the invention have been selected forpurposes of illustration and description and are shown in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the target, most of the perforable aimingcover being broken away to disclose the construction of thesectionalized impact plate which stops the bullets;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the target, substantialy on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the target, showing the electric switchesand the means for selectively actuating these switches when a hit isscored on the front of the target;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of one of the electric switches and theswitch actuating mechanism, taken from substantially the same point ofobservation as Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view substantially of the encircledportion shown in Fig. 2, and also is a view substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 4'

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing the edges of two adjacentsections of the sectionalized impact plate, for example on the line 6 6of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a side view of the electric switch, taken substantially online 7 7 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the target, the remote indicatingand scoring device, and the interconnecting electric cable;

ig. 9 is a perspective view of an upper corner of the target, show' gone form of means for mounting the perforable aiming cover, on which thetarget design is repiroduced, in the front of the sectionalized impactplate; an

Fig. 10 illustrates diagrammatically the staggering of plate segmentswhen the target is divided into a large number of sections.

'I'he target is supported in a suitable framework. In one of theillustrative embodiments, this framework comprises two vertical sidemembers 31 which are connected to the side edges of the target backplate 32. The back plate is a rectangular steel plate of approximatelythe same size as the target face. The side members may extend below thebottom of the back plate, as shown, for convenience in mounting thetarget in ani' upright position. In the illustrative embodiment, theside members 31 are structural angles which extend along and in back ofthe side edges of the target back plate. The back plate desirably isspaced forwardly from the back sides of the angles 31 by a plurality ofspacer blocks 33, and these parts may all be secured together in knownmanner, for example, by bolts passing through the back plate, the spacerblocks, and the back sides of the structural angles, as shown. The sidemembers 31 may be connected across the top of the target by a member 34,conveniently a structural angle extending along the top edge of thetarget back plate 32 and in back of the upper ends of the vertical sidemembers 31.

Located between the vertical side members 31, in

lfront of the back plate 32 and substantially coextensive therewith, isthe impact plate against which the bullets impinge. This impact plate,preferably made of hard steel so that it will not be indented orotherwise damaged by the bullets, is divided into a plurality ofsections which are numbered 1 through 23 on the drawings for convenientreference. The front surfaces of these sections 1 through 23 arepreferably flat and are substantially flush with each other so as topresent a iiat surface which is broken only by very narrow spacesseparating the sections from each other.

"of the impact plate so as to prevent any binding or contact between theedges of a section when hit and pushed or tilted back by a bullet, andthe edges of the adjacent sections. This object may be accomplished bychamfering the adjacent edges of the sections 1 through 23,substantially as shown in Fig. 6. Use of the chamfered edges also willminimize any danger of a portion of a bullet entering and jammingbetween adjacent sections. A As may be seen in Fig. l, the central partof the impact plate is divided into sections whose sides are dened by aplurality of concentric circles and radial lines. The central section 1is round and is of the same size as the bulls-eye of the aiming coverwhich is to be used. The sections 2 through 5 make up a ring which hasthe same overall diameter as the diameter of the first marker ringsurrounding the bulls-eye on the aiming cover, and the sections 6through 13 make up a ring which hasthe same overall diameter as thediameter of the `second marker ring surrounding the aiming bulls-eye.The margin of the impact plate may be divided into sections by faaufs4radialV lines, or by vertical lines, or by a combination of the two, asshown. It will-be understood, of course, that the particular number andthe division of the sections herein disclosed are merely illustrativeand will vary for target designs having smallerA or. larger numbersofcounting rings. The impact plate should be divided into sections whichmake up a plurality. of concentric rings egual in number and size to therings on the face of the aiming cover which is to be shot at. ofsections, the more precisely willthe hits on the target be spotted onthe remote indicator.

The sections 1 through. 23 of the impact plate are individually mountedso that they are movable by flexing or otherwise in the stopping of abullet. ln the preferred embodiment herein disclosed, there are threeplungersSS, secured to the'baclik of eachof the impactV sections. Thearrangement of thev plungers on the backs of the impact platesectionswillvary somewhat, depending on the shapes of the sections, butwill be such that a bullet hitting anywhere on thel front of a sectionwill result in the actuation of anelectricalswitch for. the purpose andin the manner to be described:hereinafter. In general, it may be saidthat when three plungers are employed they will be spacedv widely apartto form a` triangle. A smaller number. of plungersper. section may beadequate where the sections are small insize.

As may be seen in Figs. 4 and 5, each .plunger 35 passes through acylindrical bearing 36 and then through a hole` in the target back plate32. The inside diameter of the bearings 36,is somewhat greater than theoutside diameter of the plungersSS, sothat there will be no.

binding inthe event that a plunger is tilted slightly as itvmoves inits., bearing. The bearings 36 may. be providedk with anged endportions; 37' for convenience in securing the bearings to the back plate32, for. example, by. means ofbolts 38.

It is;desired to keep-each section of the impact plate in` a forwardposition, and any suitable means may. be employed for this purpose. ForVexample, surrounding each bearing 36' is a helical recoil spring 39,with its associatedend retainers 40, one resting against the back of theimpact plate section and the other against the heads of the bolts 3S.The plunger 3Sl may be provided near. itsrear end with a.circumferential groove to receive a split spring retaining ring 4l. Thisretaining ring 41 will be inserted inthe groove ofthe plunger after thelatter has been pushed back through the back plate tocompress the recoilspring 39 partially` and to expose the groove on the rearLside of theback plate. This retaining ring 41 is larger than the -hole through theback plate 32 and the ring holdsthe plunger. 35 againstremoval from thehole through the back plate, with the recoil spring 39. pressingtheretaining ring. 41Y firmly against the, backv of the back plate 32.lnthe illustrative embodiment, movement of the plungerto therear, aswhen the impactplate section is struck by. abullet, islimitedbyengagement. of the plate section with the endofthe plunger bearing 36.

The rear ends. of the plungersSrfor each section ofv the impactplate areconnected together by a link. In the illustrative embodiment, wherethere are three plungers for each section, the endsofthe plungersareconnected by a TL-shaped spider 42; These spiders can be seen in Fig. 3,and-:the details ofia suitable connection between an end of one of thespider arms anda plunger are disclosed in Figs.. 4 and 5; As shown, thespider arms are provided with holes .near their ends .to receive screws43 which engage tapped holes in the rear ends of the plungers 35.

Secured on the. rear of the backplate 32, as-bymeans of brackets 44, area plurality of suitable small, snap.- action, electric switches 45, oneforeach spider.

such manner'that movement of anyplunger 35v to the rear, causedby a hiton the connected impact plate section, will cause. the spider to actuatethe associated switch. When T-shaped spiders are employed, the switchespreferably willbe mounted adjacent the uprightleg of each,

a very vsmall movement of the-plunger, Awhile at the same The greaterthe numberv These switches are mounted in the rear of the` spiders 42,in`

time permitting a considerably greater movement of th plungerV withoutdamage tothe switch. Switches-suitable4 for this purpose are availablecommercially, for example, switches manufactured by the Micro SwitchCorporation of Freeport, Illinois. These switches may be designed foroperation with normally open electric circuits, or normally closedcircuits, or they may be provided with three terminals as shown in thedrawings, permitting operation with either type of circuit, asdesired.

The switch-plunger 46 projects from the switch toward the target backplate32 andy preferably is actuated by an arm 47, pivotally connected tothe switch casing. One face of the pivoted switchA arm 47 normally restsagainst the end of the plunger 46, while the other face of the arm restsagainst the back of the spider-42.

Thus, it will be seen that movement to the rear by one or more of theplungers connected to a section of the impact plate, such as occurs whenthe section is struck by a bullet, willv cause the associated spider toturnl the switch arm 47. and close or open an electric circuit; defpending on whether the system is designed for: operationr on a normallyopen or normally` closedcircuit; Actuation of the switch in this mannerwill operate thedistant` recording mechanism, as` willbe described'moreV fully hereinafter.

It has already been pointed-outthat'the rangeof move-v ment of theplungersl 3S to the rear is limited. A hit on the impact platesection-will not necessarilypushvall three connected'plungers to therear as far as it is p ossible for themto move. This willdepe-nd in partonthe location of the hit on the impact plate section. The recoilsprings 39! willreturn the'plungersto their for? ward' positionspromptly followinga hit on theA impact section and unless additionalmeans. are provided', the electric switch 45 may remain actuated onlyfor a veryshort period of time following a hit.-

ln order to insure efficient operation of thedistantrecordingrnechanism, any suitable mechanical-or electricalarrangement may be provided. In the-preferred operation, it i`sdesirableto equip each switch with-adevic'e which will increase the timeinterval' during which the switch remains in actuated conditionfollow-ing ahit. lnthe illustrative embodiment, for example, the freeend ofthe switch arm 47 'is provided-with a weight 48,1 such as a smallblock of lead. Momentum impartedto this weight whenthe switch arm isactuatedfbymovement ofthe spider willcause movement of 'the switch-armtoits full limit, thus insuring'actionof the electric switch-forasufliciently long time interval to cause operationofthe distantrecording mechanism.

The terminals of the switches 45- are connected by; means of a multipleconductor electric-cable 49-'to-adis tantrecording device S. Grdinarilythis recorder'will be located at the tiring point, so as toletfthe'personwho is doing the shooting know immediately just whereeachshot has hit thetarget. Preferably, the-recorder will havethe-appearance of a diminutive target, including* aV face which ismarked offorgdivided'to Acorrespond to--theV divisionsof-thesectionalized impact plate of the target each division or section oftherecorder face having-its;V

andmay include theordinarymechanism-that will-'alsof Vshowaccumulations,

The target cover at which aim actually isl takenprefi erably is a sheetS2 stretched' taut inA front offthe-sectionalized impact plate andspacedashort distance )therefroni. This-aiming covertpreferablywillb'e atextilereinforced' rubber sheetandit maybe somewhatvelastic; This aimingcover willbe held taut position'across thefront of the target frameworkcomprisingthe side mem-A bers 31y andthe top connectingmember/Mbyfsuitable means, for'example, by aplurality oficlips531secured: to the edges of the cover 52`and extending around theAedgesmf the frame-work` into lslots-5 4.:-'th-roughth'e sides of themembers 31 and 34. The lower edge of the-aiming cover can be held tautby similar clips engaging slots in a cross member 55 extending betweenthe vertical side members 31 of the framework, below the target backplate 32. The front of the aiming cover 52 has reproduced thereon theconventional target design, comprising a central bulls-eye andaplurality of concentric scoring circles.

As previously pointed outythe bulls-eye on the aiming cover 52corresponds in size tothe impact plate section 1 and lies directly overthis section, and the concentric scoring circles on the aiming Acoverare of the same size as the concentric zones on the sectionalized impactplate. Hence, a hit through the bulls-eye of the aiming cover will bescored on the recorder 50 as a bulls-eye, that is in section 1, and ahit through any of the concentric scoring circles of the aiming coverwill be accurately shown on the diminutive target recorder.

Bullets passing through the perforable aiming cover 52 and eXpendingtheir force against the sectionalized impact plate will drop downthrough the space between the aiming cover and the impact plate and maybe collected for salvage as scrap. To this end, the cross member 55 maybe provided with one or more openings which permit the spent bullets todrop directly into a suitable container located below the target. Thecross member 55 may be spaced slightly below the lower edge of thesectionalized impact plate, so that any spent bullets which mayaccumulate thereon will not cause a false indication on the recorder, orinterfere in any way with the reliable operation thereof. The crossmember 55 may be secured to the vertical side members 31 so as to bereadily removable, for example, by means of bolts and wing nuts Escapeto the side or upwardly of any bullet which strikes the impact plate aglancing blow is prevented by the target framework members 31 and 34.Any bullet rebounding from the impact plate will be stopped by theaiming cover and then will drop into the scrap container.

Referring now to Fig. l0 there is shown another Satisfactory method ofswitch operating means when the target is divided into a large number ofsections Which would not allow the impact plates to be placed in thesame plane, and therefore, the ligure shows the impact plates positionedin different planes so as to allow the edges of one plate to overlapthose of adjacent plates. This arrangement allows more efficientoperation of the target structure.

When it is desired to use a silhouette target at the target structurepoint, a like silhouette type, preferably of paper or the like, will beplaced over the face of the hit indicator 50 and the shots on the targetstructure will be easily noted on the face of the hit indicator. When abulls eye target is employed at the target structure, then a bulls eyetype of paper or other translucent material can be placed over the frontof the lamps in the hit indicator so that the person firing will be ableto note the place where the hits are made on the target structure.

The disclosures herein provide an improved type of target structure atthe target itself, and a full combination of all of the target operatingmechanism that includes the target and the hit indicator or recorderwhich is usually mounted very close to the person firing so that thepoint of hitting the target will be transmitted quickly and will beretained on the indicator for a predetermined length of time, thusallowing the person firing to make record of his hit.

It will be particularly noted that the impact of the bullet in thetarget structure functions to operate a complete target indicatingsystem which has many advantageous features. One of these features issafety Wherein it is not necessary that a person be in the target pitsto point out the place of actual hit. Another advantageous feature isthat the person firing can note immediately the point of hit and canmake such records as he may desire. Another feature is that a new orsubstitute face or cover may be presented over each of the target andindicator. Such a face or cover may have any particular design on it orhave a design of any desired size so that the lirings are representativeof different distances (yardage). The placing of different covers ortarget distances in front of the target structure itself may beaccomplished by having a different set of designs ing a plurality ofperforations through which the ends of the aforesaid plungers protrude,bearings for said plungers, said bearings being slightly larger than theplungers and secured to the back plate, means limiting the range ofmovement of the plungers in their bearings, resilient means pressing thesegments away from the back plate in the direction toward the ringpoint, a T-shaped spider for each segment of the mi ings being slightlylarger than to the back plate and acting to limit the range of movementof the plungers in their bearings, resilient means pressing the segmentsforwardly away from the back plate, a connecting link for the plungersof each segment, the connecting links being located to the rear of saidback plate with the ends of each link secured to the ends of theplungers protruding through the back plate, an

the plungers and secured plate adjacent the links, and means foractuating one of the switch mechanisms by its associated link when anyplunger connected to the link is moved rearwardly a small distance, asby the impact of a missile against the face of the segment.

3. A target according to claim 2 including, in combination, acorrespondingly sectionalized, diminutive target recorder located at thepoint of firing, electrically operated, visual indicating means for eachsegment of the sectionalized recorder, and electrical circuitsinterconnecting each switch of the target with the indicating means inthe corresponding segment of the recorder, so that a hit on any segmentof the target will automatically and temporarily operate thecorrespondingly positioned indicating means on the diminutive targetrecorder.

4. A target comprising, in combination, a sectionalized impact plateconsisting of a plurality of flush, intertting segments of divers shapeswhich are separated from each other at their adjacent edges by distancessubstantially less than the diameter of the missiles to be projectedagainst the target, a back plate in the rear of said impact plate, `.aplurality of plungers secured to and projecting rearwardly from eachsegment of the impact plate, openings through the back plate throughwhich the rear ends of the plungers extend, a bearing for each saidplunger in which the plunger can slide, means securing the said plungerbearings to the back plate, each of said.v bearingsi extendingzmost..of'. the; distance; between. an impact plate: and. said 1 backzpatey andacting to: limit; the' rearwardmovementof said impact plate, resilientmeans"- References CitedV in -the lefof. this patent UNITED STATESPATENTS Name Da Number' tei Ullman Sept.. 21, 1880 Number:

Name- Date Rice Apr. 12, 1910 Ellisv Oct 3, 1911 Hanson sept'. 23, 1919Michaudl Jan. 3, 1922 Lamb May- 16, 1933 Browning Aug. 8,- 1939 GartreilDec. 26,v 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great-Britain 1910

